Predicting Kidney Damage in Diabetes Patients with Urine Proteome Biomarker

What is it about?

The study investigated whether a urine proteome specific for sight-threatening proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) is an indicator to predict chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Shotgun urine proteomic analysis was performed in patients with microalbuminuria (MAU) and PDR and in patients with MAU and a duration of T2D for >10 years but without any degree of retinopathy. The top two urine proteins with the highest difference in ratio of case subjects to control subjects were haptoglobin and a-2-macroglobulin. In the cohort study, patients with baseline urinary haptoglobin ≥20 ng/min had a higher incidence of CRI than those without. The study found that urine proteome specific for eye damage could predict kidney damage in a 5.3-year prospective cohort of T2D. Haptoglobin, which is specific for PDR, is a novel biomarker and complement to urine albumin for predicting kidney damage in patients with T2D.

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Why is it important?

This research is important because it identifies a novel biomarker, urine haptoglobin, which is specific for PDR and can complement urine albumin as a predictor of kidney damage in patients with type 2 diabetes. Early detection of kidney damage is crucial for optimal clinical management and prevention of end-stage renal disease and blindness. Key Takeaways: 1. The predictive value of microalbuminuria for kidney damage is limited in type 2 diabetes. 2. Urine proteome specific for sight-threatening proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) is an indicator to predict chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) in patients with T2D. 3. Haptoglobin and α-2-macroglobulin, the two most closely related proteins, were elevated in patients with PDR. 4. Urine haptoglobin, which is specific for PDR, is a novel biomarker and complement to urine albumin for predicting kidney damage in patients with T2D.